Portable cooking device

ABSTRACT

A portable cooking device for grilling and/or smoking food products which can be attached to a trailer or cargo hitch of a vehicle, or which can be quickly and easily converted to free-standing use.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/193,487 filed on Mar. 31, 2000

STATEMENTS AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

[0002] None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention generally relates to a portable cooking device which can be used to cook food using both low and high temperatures. More particularly, the present invention relates to a portable cooking device for the smoking, broiling and/or grilling of meats and other foods.

[0004] The grilling and/or broiling of meats and other foods has been practiced for centuries. Similarly, the smoking of food products is also widely known in the art. Essentially, the grilling and/or broiling process involves the cooking of foods by exposing such foods to direct heat and high temperature convective currents. Similarly, the smoking process involves exposing foods to both indirect radiation and low temperature convective currents.

[0005] Generally, the heat for such processes is generated by burning fuel such as propane gas, wood, or charcoal briquettes. Certain types of foods, such as brisket, sausage or other meat cuts, are particularly suited to smoking. Certain foods, such as chicken and fajitas for example, are particularly suited for broiling and/or grilling.

[0006] It has been observed that people often confuse the barbecuing process employed using a typical backyard barbecuing device, with the grilling and/or broiling of food. The barbecuing process generally involves the cooking of foods by exposing such foods to relatively low temperature and smoke for a relatively long period of time. By contrast, in the broiling and/or grilling process, low temperatures and lengthy cooking times of foods are generally avoided. Rather, it is preferable to use relatively high temperatures and short cooking times.

[0007] Structures known in the art which can be used for smoking, broiling and/or grilling normally include a fire pit and a cooking section. Such cooking section is typically positioned either indirectly (for smoking) or directly (for grilling) above the fire pit. Such structures also typically include vents or air holes for adjusting the cooking temperature. Smoke and gases are also exhausted through vents and air holes. Smoke and heat necessary in the cooking process are generally produced by burning a fuel in the fire pit. Such fuel can include propane gas, wood, or charcoal briquettes. Further, a starter such as lighter fluid can be used to ignite the wood or charcoal briquette fuel.

[0008] Generally, a desirable heat range for the broiling and/or grilling process is between 300 degrees Fahrenheit to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. As such, the cooking section of a conventional cooking structure generally must be located close enough to the fire pit so that the heat is adequately transferred to the food to be cooked. Because of the short spacing required between the fire pit and the cooking section, broiling and/or grilling devices can be relatively small and portable. However, because such portable broiling and/or grilling devices are generally small, they can be limited on the quantity of foods cooked at one time.

[0009] Generally, it has been observed that the most desirable heat range for smoking of foods is about 180 degrees Fahrenheit to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Thus, in a cooking structure designed for such application, the cooking section must generally be located some distance away from the fire pit. Because of the distant spacing required between the fire pit and the cooking section, smoking devices are typically relatively large and cumbersome. As a result, portable smoking devices known in the art are generally large in size. Further, because of the large size, such smoking devices are often mounted on wheeled trailers which can be towed behind vehicles.

[0010] As a result, portable devices used for smoking, broiling and/or grilling foods generally have a number of deficiencies. Because of the size and cost of trailer mounted units, many individuals cannot justify building or buying such cooking devices. Existing cooking devices are often too heavy to make them truly portable or convenient. Further, none offer a convenient manner of transporting and utilizing such cooking device without loading or unloading it from a vehicle. However, none of the existing cooking devices offer a choice of using wood, charcoal, or propane gas as a source of fuel, or provide an attached cargo rack for carrying gear or supplies.

[0011] Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive and relatively large portable cooking device that is convenient to transport utilizing the towing package/receiver of a vehicle.

[0012] It is another object of this invention to provide for a relatively large cooking device, which is suitable for installation and use in connection with a typical towing package/receiver of a vehicle.

[0013] It is yet another object of this invention to provide a cooking device which can be detached from a vehicle's towing package/receiver and mounted on legs and/or wheels for ease of ground mobility.

[0014] It is yet another object of this invention to provide easy access to a vehicle's cargo space by allowing a tailgate, hatch, or trunk of such vehicle to be opened without removal of the cooking device of the present invention.

[0015] It is yet another object of this invention to provide a versatile cooking device which can use a number of different fuels.

[0016] It is yet another object of this invention to provide a cooking device, employing a smoker partition into the pit housing to facilitate indirect heat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The present invention can be broadly summarized as providing a large portable cooking device which can be used in connection with the grilling, broiling and/or smoking of meats and other food products. The present invention can be utilized while attached to a vehicle, or while free-standing apart from such a vehicle. This device generally includes a housing having a base which is received within the towing/receiving package of a vehicle, a hinged lid which opens from the housing, a food rack, grill grates mounted within the housing, adjustable air vents for venting heat and smoke from the housing, a smoker partition for smoking of foods, and a cargo rack for additional vehicle cargo space. In at least one embodiment, the device can include a propane gas burner within said housing for heat production directly below the food rack. Both the food rack and grill grate are ideally removable for cleaning purposes. The cooking device of the present invention also allows most vehicles' tailgates, hatches, or trunk lids to be opened without removal of the device, thereby making it convenient to access such vehicle's cargo space or truck bed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a side view of a cooking device of the present invention installed on a cargo hitch of a vehicle.

[0019]FIG. 2 is a front view of a cooking device of the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 3 is a side view of a cooking device of the present invention installed on a cargo hitch of a vehicle.

[0021]FIG. 4 is an exploded side view of the cooking device of the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 5 is a side view of a cooking device with legs constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 6 is a view of a smoker partition constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION ON THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] The present invention may be best understood and its various objects and advantages best appreciated by reference to the detailed description below in connection with the accompanying drawings.

[0025]FIG. 1 depicts a side view of a cooking device of the present invention installed on a cargo hitch of a vehicle. Pit housing 1 is attached to trailer hitch 30 of truck 40, via rigid vertical member 11 and rigid horizontal member 13.

[0026]FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a cooking device with cargo rack constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The cooking device includes a pit housing 1 having hinged lid 2 and lid handle 2 a. Lid stop 3 is affixed to the top of pit housing 1 in order to limit backward travel of hinged lid 2. Carrying handle 4 is affixed to one side of pit housing 1, while front shelf 5 is attached to pit housing 1 below hinged lid 2. Vent stacks 6 a and 6 b are located on each side of pit housing 1. Light support brackets 7 a and 7 b are attached to the front top sides of the cargo rack 7. Light brackets 7 a and 7 b contain holes for the insertion and attachment of light support bolts. Propane gas control panel 8 is attached to pit housing 1 having control knobs which regulate propane gas hoses and burner contained within pit housing 1. Side shelf 9 is affixed to a side of pit housing 1.

[0027] Mounting bracket 10 is attached to the base of pit housing 1. In the preferred embodiment, mounting bracket 10 contains a bore therethrough. Rigid vertical member 11 is received within mounting bracket 10. Rigid vertical member 11 has a bore extending therethrough, and said bore is aligned with the bore which extends through mounting bracket 10. Bolt 12 is received within the aligned bores of mounting bracket 10 and rigid vertical member 11. Rigid horizontal member 13 is affixed to the base of rigid vertical member 11. Although any number of configurations can be contemplated, in the preferred embodiment, rigid vertical member 11 and rigid horizontal member 13 are integrally attached and joined roughly at a right angle. Cargo rack 7 is mounted to the upper surface of rigid horizontal member 13.

[0028]FIG. 3 depicts a side view of a cooking device with cargo rack constructed in accordance to the teachings of the present invention. Pit housing 1 has side ash door 14 and adjustable vent hole 15. Welded hinges 16 and a rotating latch 17 secure the ash door closed. In the preferred embodiment, the vent holes are covered with an adjustable cover bolted to the pit housing just above the vent hole. Mounting bracket 10 is attached to the base of pit housing 1. Rigid vertical member 11 is received within mounting bracket 10, and is secured in place using bolt 12. Nut 12 a is screwed on to threads on bolt 12. Rigid horizontal member 13 is attached at one end to rigid vertical member 11. The other end of rigid horizontal member 13 (that is, the end opposite said rigid vertical member) is sized to be received within vehicle cargo hitch 30 which extends from the rear of the vehicle. Although such a configuration is not necessarily required, in many instances said vehicle cargo hitch is attached at or near the rear bumper of a vehicle, and is often used for towing trailers and the like. Cargo rack 7 is mounted to the upper surface of rigid horizontal member 13.

[0029]FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of the cooking device of the present invention. Mounting bracket 10 is attached to the base of pit housing 1. Bolt 12 can be inserted through aligned bores in mounting bracket 10 and rigid vertical member 11, and threaded together with nut 12 a. In the preferred embodiment, rigid vertical member 11 has steel spacers/shims 11 a affixed to one or more sides to increase the frictional contact with mounting bracket 10, and to add stability to pit housing 1, thereby minimizing side-to-side movement. Couplings 18 a and 18 b are affixed to the lower surface of pit housing 1.

[0030]FIG. 5 depicts a side view of a cooking device constructed in accordance to the teachings of the present invention, having attached front leg 19 a and near leg 19 b, as well as wheel 20 a. In the preferred embodiment, legs 19 a and 19 b are constructed of double threaded steel pipe, which attach and screw into couplings 18 a and 18 b affixed to the base of pit housing 1. In the preferred embodiment, couplings 18 a and 18 b are at a slight outward angle, such that the legs 19 a and 19 b are positioned out and away from pit housing 1 to add stability. The base of leg 19 a has expanded end cap 21 attached to further improve stability of pit housing 1. In this embodiment, the present invention is not mounted to a vehicle cargo hitch, but is free-standing using legs 19 a and 19 b, and wheel 20 a. In this embodiment, rigid vertical extension 11 is not inserted within mounting bracket 10 on the base of pit housing 1.

[0031]FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of smoker partition 21 used to divide a cooking device pit housing in half constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, smoker partition 21 is constructed of sturdy material such as sheet metal and is shaped to correspond to the inner concave shape of pit housing 1. Such smoker partition can be inserted into the center of said pit housing 1, thereby separating the left and right sides of pit housing 1. Handle piece 22 is affixed to the top of the smoker partition 21 and is used to assist in handling the smoker partition 21.

[0032] Thus it can be seen that the present invention provides for an improved large portable cooking device, which incorporates many novel features and offer significant advantages over the prior art. Although only a few embodiments have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that obvious modifications can be made of it without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable cooking device comprising: a. a cooking enclosure; and b. means for mounting said cooking enclosure to a towing hitch of a vehicle
 2. The portable cooking device of claim 1 , wherein said means for attaching said cooking enclosure to a towing hitch of a vehicle further comprises: a. a roughly horizontal rigid member received within said towing hitch; and b. a roughly vertical rigid member having an upper end and a lower end, wherein said upper end of said roughly vertical rigid member is attached to the base of said cooking enclosure, and said lower end of said roughly vertical rigid member is affixed to said roughly horizontal rigid member.
 3. The portable cooking device of claim 2 , further comprising a mounting bracket attached to said cooking enclosure, wherein the upper end of said roughly vertical member is received within said mounting bracket.
 4. The portable cooking device of claim 3 , wherein said roughly horizontal rigid member is of sufficient length to permit a tailgate of said vehicle to open without being obstructed by said cooking enclosure.
 5. The portable cooking device of claim 3 , wherein said roughly horizontal rigid member is of sufficient length to permit a trunk lid of said vehicle to open without being obstructed by said cooking enclosure.
 6. The portable cooking device of claim 3 , further comprising a cargo rack mounted to said roughly horizontal rigid member. 